The Shade: Ted Cruz Booed At RNC, Refuses To Endorse Trump

The crowd erupted, continually chanting, "Endorse Trump!" They never got their wish.

Ted Cruzand Donald Trump’s tumultuous relationship came to a head on Wednesday evening, when the former presidential candidate refused to endorse his political rival at the RNC.

Cruz was welcomed with a prolonged standing ovation, but exited with a barrage of jeers after he ended his address with the following:

“To those listening, please don’t stay home in November,” Cruz said. “If you love our country and love your children as much as I know that you do, Stand and speak and vote your conscience, vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom and to be faithful to the constitution.”

The crowd erupted, continually chanting, “Endorse Trump!” They never got their wish.

Watch Roland Martin and NewsOne Now’s coverage of the Republican National Convention in the video clip below.

According to the following tweet by MSNBC reporter Cal Perry, Cruz’s wife Heidi was escorted out by security, due to concerns for her safety. Trump supporters shouted “Goldman Sachs!” as she walked by, CNN reports.

In a strange twist of events, Cruz was practically upstaged by Trump near the end of his speech, when the presidential candidate entered the Quicken Loans arena, welcomed with cheers, intertwining with the loud disapproval of the crowd.

After Cruz left the stage, he and his family were confronted by angry RNC members, according to CNN. One state leader allegedly had to be restrained.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, the former presidential candidate turned staunch loyal to Trump, told CNN’s Dana Bash that Cruz’s speech was “awful.” “And quite frankly, I think it was something selfish. And he signed a pledge. And it’s his job to keep his word,” he continued.

Until that point, Cruz’s speech echoed moderate views, as the senator touched on his stronghold of conservative, Christian values.

He described the heartbreak endured by the families of the Dallas police officers – specifically mentioning their children. Cruz also singled himself out as the only candidate at the RNC who referred to the families of Alton Sterling and the victims of the Emanuel AME Church shooting, admiring their courage and the ability to forgive.

Cruz’s snub exasperates a clear party divide that exists within the GOP, one that RNC leaders planned to heal by uniting under their chosen candidate.

Wow, Ted Cruz got booed off the stage, didn't honor the pledge! I saw his speech two hours early but let him speak anyway. No big deal!